Using the sun, water or wind to create energy helps the environment, as well as the cost of energy in your home. If you want to learn how to go green with your energy usage around the house, read on for some tips that can help you consume energy wisely.
Solar water heating is a great way to decrease the expense of heating water used for showers and swimming pools. Solar water heaters tap into the abundant and free energy offered by the sun. Water heated by other methods, like natural gas, propane, or electricity, is not an efficient method. You may get tax deductions to offset the expense of installing some of this technology.
Reduce your energy consumption by unplugging anything that is not in use, especially battery chargers. Even if you are not charging your laptop, cell phone or mp3 player, just having it plugged in uses energy.
Are you living on a farm? If so, you can rent a portion of it so wind turbines can be installed. You and the neighbors can benefit from this free installation and energy which won’t take up much space.
Consider solar water heaters to make your home more energy efficient. If you live in an area where freezing temperatures are unlikely, you can purchase systems that circulate water through solar heating systems before pumping it inside for use. However, it’s best to keep a traditional heater for times when you need a lot of heated water, or if the sun does not come out.
Don’t keep things turned on all the time. When you leave a room, take the time to turn off lights, the tv or the computer. Keep your home appliances on a power strip, and switch it off when not in use.
When planning the solar system used in the home, use winter sunshine hours to determine what potential energy generation will be. This can prevent any nasty surprises during winter, and it can leave you ahead in the summer. Net usage plans let you receive money for generated energy!
If you would like to live your life green, stay away from excess electric heater usage. In order to do this, you need to do two things. First, buy the necessary clothing and slippers, to keep family members warm. Second, use a pellet stove or fireplace for heating. Also, it has been shown that people sleep better in cool environments.
Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer. This can significantly lower the amount of electricity you use, especially if the computer is on the Internet a lot or uses word processing software. You can also bring your computer anywhere if you have a laptop.
If you don’t know what changes to make, consider having a heating expert or plumber come to your home and give you a list of changes you can make to cut your energy costs. They’ll tell you the amount you’re losing due to inefficiency, and they will provide estimates on the cost to upgrade.
Getting started on green energy today means savings to you and the planet tomorrow. As this article shows, going green isn’t all that difficult and costly. Put this excellent advice to use and build a more environmentally friendly and efficient home today.